(Peru, Neb.) – After jumping to a huge 27-point lead at halftime, the Peru State College (PSC) Bobcat men's basketball team cruised to an easy 77-60 win over Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) on New Year's Eve.
 
With the win, Peru State improved to 6-7 overall while the Fighting Indians fell to 2-10.
 
Game Action
 
After trailing 3-2 at the 17:08 mark in the first half, the 'Cats went on a 9-0 run to go up 11-3 with 14:41 remaining in the first half and never looked back after that point.
 
PSC continued to take it to the Fighting Indians in the first half pushing it to a 46-19 halftime lead by shooting over 50% in the first twenty minutes.  In addition, the Bobcats limited their turnovers to only two while forcing Haskell to commit nine.
 
At the start of the second half, Peru State increased the lead to 31 as they led 54-23 with 17:14 left in the game.  With seven minutes left, PSC still led by 29 before the Fighting Indians finished the game by outscoring the 'Cats 22-10 to make the final margin more respectable.
 
Team Statistics
 
For the game, PSC made 33 of 70 field goal attempts for 47.1% that included going six of 16 for 37.5% from behind the arc.  The Bobcats' struggle at the free throw line continued as they connected on only five of 12 for 41.7%.
 
Haskell hit 23 of 66 shots for 34.8% having made nearly 50% of their shots in the second half.  From three-point range, Haskell made four of 14 for 28.6%.  At the charity stripe, the Fighting Indians were ten of 18 for 55.6%.
 
PSC outrebounded Haskell 43-35, which included 30 defensive rebounds.   By the end of the game, the turnover margin was much closer as Peru State finished with 16 while Haskell had 18 miscues.  The 'Cats blocked six Haskell shots while HINU blocked four.
 
Individual Statistics
 
Three Bobcats finished in double figures.  Kody Kirkpatrick (Loami, Ill.) led the team with 17 points on six of ten shooting which included going five of eight from behind the arc. 
 
Also in double figures were Nate Bohy (Mesa, Ariz.) with 13 and Richard Oppitz (Topeka, Kan.) with 12.  Bohy led the team with seven assists while Oppitz grabbed four rebounds and blocked one shot.
 
Jacob Schaben (Defiance, Iowa) led PSC with ten rebounds.  Taylor Christensen (Phoenix, Ariz.) blocked three shots and had eight points.

HINU BOX SCORE
 
Upcoming Games
 
Peru State has a pair of Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) games yet this week.  On Thursday, PSC travels to Baldwin City, Kan., to face the Baker University Wildcats.  Currently, Baker is 8-5 overall and 1-2 in the HAAC.  Game time is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. or 25 minutes following the women's game.
 
Then, on Saturday, the Bobcats will host the Missouri College Vikings in the Al Wheeler Activity Center (AWAC) beginning at approximately 4 p.m.  Presently, the Vikings are 5-9 overall and 0-2 in the HAAC.
 
The team's final non-conference action will take place on Monday, Jan. 7, when PSC hosts Grace University beginning at approximately 7 p.m.   The Royals are presently 6-9 on the year and will play Doane on Thursday before traveling to Peru on Monday.